Evening Star Newspaper, January 9, 1930, Page 17

HEADS OF DISTRICT APPROVE INCREASE INPOLICE SALARIES Favorable Report Sent House and Senate Include Bigger Pay for Firemen. RECOMMEND REDUCTION FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS Additions Asked for Will Lift Cost to Taxpayers $883,926 Annually. ‘The District Commissioners yester- day sent to the District committees of the Senate and House favorable re- ports on the Zihiman bill for increas- ing the salaries of members of the Police and Fire Departments. The Commissioners, however, recommended that salaries proposed for certain of the higher officers of each department be reduced below those provided for in_the bill. The Commissioners approved the fol- lowing increases as to the Police De- partment without amendment: Cap- tains, from $3,000 to $3.600 each; lieu- tenants, from $2700 to $3,050 each, and sergeants. from $2.400 to 82 each. Privates at present receive $1.800 a8 an entmance salary, with a maximum of $2,100. This would be changed to an entrance salary of $1,900, with an annual increase of $100 until a maximum of $2,400 is reached. The increases approved for the Fire Department are: Deputy fire marshals, from $2,500 to $3,000; inspectors, from $2,160 to $2460; captains, from $2,500 to $3,000; lieutenants, from $2,350 to $2,840; sergeants, from $2,200 to $2,600. assistant superintendent of machinery, from $2,500 to $3,000; pilots, from $2.250 to $2,600; marine engineers, from $2,250 to $2,600; assistant marine en- gineers, from $2,150 to $2.4¢ marine firemen, from $1,800 to $2,100. Privates in the department are now paid an entrance salary of $1,800. with a maxi- mum of $2.100. The bill as approved by the Commissioners increases this to an entrance salary of $1,900, with an- nual increases of $100 up to $2,400. Reductions Recommended. ‘The amendments offered by the Com- missioners were reductions in the pro- salaries of the major and super- intendent of police and the chief en- gineer of the Fire Department from $8,500 to $8,000. These officers now re- ceive $5,200. The following reductions were also recommended by the Police Department: Assistant superintendents from $5,500 to $5,000. They now re- ceive $3,500. Inspectors from $4,500 to $4.000. They now receive $3,250. In the Fire Department the Commis- sloners suggested a reduction of the proposed pay of deputy chief engineers | from $5,500 to $5,000. They now re- ceive $3,500. Battalion chief engineers | | | | radical changes in the civil service re- ILLNESS FAILS TO FROM REGISTE |Joins Fellow Students for Transfer Despite Tube in His Back. | Fourteen Operations in Six Years Cannot Keep Boy Down in Spirits. When the seventh grade puplls of the old Force-Adams School were trans- ferred Monday to become ‘“charter puplls” of the new John Quincy Adams School, at Columbia road and Nine- teenth street, 12-year-old Leonard Rogers Smith was not to be left be- hind. tube or no tube in his back. Although barely recovered from in- fluenza and pneumonia and still limp- | ing from a stiff leg that resulted from | illness two years ago, the lad insisted on registering on the day of the open- ing of the new school. Daily now he rides all the way from his home at 2036 F street to school on the street cars and then back again in the afternoon. He can't take part in any of the games of the other children, but that doesn’t worry him. He's more concerned with keeping up with his class, anyway, and is doing just that in spite of his handicaps and enforced absences. Last Fall, shortly after the beginning | of the school term, he contracted in- fluenza, which turned into pneumonia. | Physicians at Children's Hospital de- spaired of his life for the third time in | | | @he Foening Starf Society and General WASHINGTON, D. C, KEEP YOUTH RING AT SCHOOL ROGERS SMITH. tion 1o live. Part of a rib was removed and for months to come he will have to g0 about with a tube in his back. A tube in one's back is no new expe- rience for Leonard. Two years ago he was {ll with infected mastoid glands, septic pneumonia and pleurisy and the doctors had to remove part of another rib and insert a drain, This illness left his leg stiff, perhaps for life. The boy's ill health began when he was stricken with scarlet, fever at the age of 6. Then five operations were necessary. When he was 10, the phy- sicians operated seven times and dur- ing his latest illness once, making a | his career. The boy pulled through, however, perhaps by sheer determin: total of 14 times he has been under the surgeon’s knife. Minimum Annuity This fs the Afth of @ series of seven articles on the status of proposed meas- iures to liberalize the civil service re- tirement law in the interest of Govern- ment employes who are retired or may hereatier retire. The mert article will appear tomorroiw. BY DONALD A. CRAIG. Striking out boldly in favor of more tirement law than those proposed either in the Dale-Lehlbach bill or the plan of the National Federation of Fed- eral Employes, another organized group of employes, known as the League of the American Civil Service, of which Mrs. Margaret Hopkins Worrell is president, is asking the House to increase the maximum annuity to $1,500 a year, to provide that no annuitant shall receive less than $365 a year, or $1 a day, and from $4,500 to $4,000. They now re- ceive $3050. Fire marshal from $5.500 | to 84.750. He now receives $3.250. perintendent, of machinery from $ to $4,750. He now receives $3.250. The Commissioners' report on the bill was based on the recommendations of District Auditor Daniel J. Donovan. He submitted comparative figures from 22 cities in support of the proposed amendments. These show that in only Chicago and Baltimore would the pay of the head of the palice department exceed $8,000. These cities pay $10.000. The head of the fire department in New York receives $12,500. In Chicago this tion pays $8,000, and in all cities ted it pays less than $8,000. Salaries Are Compared. . Donovan also compared the pro- Wuflsfllry schedules with those in the other departments of the Government. If the proposed bill as amended goes through the only persons who will be receiving more than the police and fire chiefs will be the corporation counsel, who receives $9,000, and the District auditor, who receives $8,500. Other sal- aries offered for comparison are munic- ipal architect, director of public wel- fare, judges of the Police Court and librarian of the Free Public Library, $8.000 each; members of the Public Utilities Commission and the people’s counsel, $7,500 each: engineer of high- ways, sanitary engineer, judges of the | Municipal and Juvenile Courts, $7,000 each. % “The fact should be borne in mind.’ Mr. Donovan wrote, “in considering the fixing of a salary of $8.000 for the major | and superintendent of police and the chief engineer of the Fire Department | on the basis of like salaries being paid to heads of certain other major de-| partments of the District Government that there is no assurance that the sal- | aries paid to these certain heads of de- partments are permanent. In all those cases the present salaries rose as the result of administrative action in rais- ing the positions two grades under the provisions of the Welch act. An effort has been made in the past, and it is understood this effort will be re- newed in the present Congress. to reduce by one grade ali positions that were raised two grades under the Welch act. Should_this be done it will result in those heads now receiving $8.000 or more being reduced in salary to & maximum of $7,500 each.” Approved by Bureau. u- | 5,500 | | i The annual increase in cost to the| taxpayers under the bill would be about | £883,026, based on the present person- nel of the departments, the Commis- sioners estimated. This increased ex- penditure has the approval of the Bu- Teau of the Budget as not in conflict with the President’s financial program. The Commissioners submitted amend- ments to the bill providing for deduc- tion of 3% per cent of the pay of each member of the Police and Fire Depart- ments instead of 2, per cent. as at resent, for upkeep of the retirement und. The cost of pensions paid from this fund during the last fiscal year was $613,767.49. Of this amount $128.- 73646 was deducted from the salaries of members. In other words, they con- fributed about 21 per cent. The auditor reported that about 4 per cent was made up from miscellaneous funds and 75 per cent from general revenues of | the District. JURY RENDERS SUICIDE VERDICT IN KING’S DEATH Autopsy by Deputy Coroner Re- veals Poison and Alcohol in Stomach. Coroner's jury holding an inquest into the death of Vinton Guy King, 54 years old, of Eleventh near D streets, returned a verdict of suicide at the District Morgue this afternoon. King, a_ former District policeman, Gallinger Hospital Tuesday. utopsy performed Dr. Joseph D. Rogers, deputy coroner, revealed a poi- son and alcohol in the stomach. King was picked up Monday by a po- ‘Jiceman at Twelfth and E streets south- ‘east and removed to Gallinger Hospnll,l where the next to liberalize the law in other important particulars. The bill was passed by the Senate this week without amend- ment. “Through my work among Gmwrn-‘ ment employes and study of conditions,” | Mrs. Worrell says in a letter to mem- | bers of the House, believe I may truthfully say they ‘desire an amend- ment that will effect certain changes in | | the retirement act. These changes are | set forth in the inclosed bill.” Mrs. Worrell inclosed a complete draft of the bill proposed by the league. She says her organization is Sponsor- ing important changes in the law “be- cause of the great suffering, untimely deaths and some suicides among old and thithtul employes of our Govern- ment.” An important provision of the bill sent to members of Congress by Mrs. ‘Worrell is for optional retirement at 60 years of age or after 30 years of service. | She contends that not many persons will take advantage of such an option, as most employes desire retention in the service even after reaching the age of 70. | “But the knowledge that they can| retire will greatly help in restoring the morale,” declares Mrs. Worrell. This measure also proposes that an- nuities be computed upon a basis of | ny five years of allowable serivce—not the last five years, as provided in the Dale-Lehlbach bill. “Many Government employes suffer material reduction in salaries during the last five years of their service” explains Mrs. Worrell. “While the Army and Navy raise the salaries of | their personnel during their last ynlr!l of service, in order that they may re- | tire on a living wage, the salaries of the civil service employes are usually | RETIREMENT CHANGES SOUGHT BY LEAGUE OF CIVIL SERVICE With Maximum of $1.500. Is Requested. | eisco, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Boston O‘E 3365 a Year. in order to reach the present retirement age of 70 years, and must necessarily contribute considerably more to the re- tirement fund than those who enter at a later age and serve for a less period. | “7. Of the 2,574 employes retired dur- ing the last fiscal year 810 were retired for partial or total disability. Why not save the Government as well as the em- ployes the expense of these examinations | every year by permitting them to retire at any time between the age of 60 and 70 years at their option. “8. For the last 50 years the salaries of Government emploves have been in- | adequate to properly support their families, and in almost every instance those 70 years of age and over who have been retired are suffering for the bare necessities of life. “9, In this day and age an old man cannot possibly live and support his wife on $100 per month (the sum pro- posed in the Dale bill), and only about 3,000 out of the 15383 would receive that amount. 0. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1929, there were 1,764 employes retired on account of age (70 years and over) and 1395 were dropped from the rolls on account of death. Not many live over four years after being retired. | 1. Optional retirement at 60 years f age is in operation in Great Brl(lln.‘ France and many other countries and | in the municipal governments of New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Fran- and Baltimore. Dr. Hubert Work when Secretary of the Interior in 1927 advo- cated this change. The Civil Service | Commission also stresses the fact that this change should be made. Let us consider our employes as well as our Government and make this change without further delay.’ “Qversight” Pointed Out. The attention of Senator Dale and Representative Lehlbach has been called | to what is designated a “bad over- sight” in the ‘Bale-Lenibach bill by C. B. Hemingway. Whether any a tempt will be made to amend the bill | along the lines suggested by Mr. Hem- ingway is problematical at this time. Here is his letter: “On behalf of about 10,000 lowest- paid and lower-paid Federal employe annuitants who are in greatest need of increased annuity and who would receive the least increase under your proposed amendment of the retirement act (in thousands of cases increase so trivial as to afford no relief), and be- lieving that you would desire to rectify a bad oversight in that amendment, I call your attention to the fact that upon” the reclassification of salaries July 1, 1924, in fixing the new basic salaries the bonus of $240 a year was added to the basic salaries previously AGENT SURRENDERS WHEN MAN DIES OF GUNSHOT WOUNDS Dry Raider Inflicted Injuries When William Bell Pointed Pistol at Him. FORMER D. C. POLICEMAN VOLUNTARILY GIVES UP Colored Officer Awaits Outcome of Coroner's Inquest Set for Tomorrow. Shot early yesterday by a Federal prohibition agent making an alleged warrantless raid on 2125 Ninth street william Bell, colored, 30, 2105 Ninth street, died of his wounds at 3:15 this morning in Freedmen's Hospital. Notified of the man's death, tife offi- cer, Eugene Jackson, colored, a former ‘Washington policeman, went to the eighth precinct and gave himself up. He is being held pending the result of a coroner’s inquest tomorrow. Jackson told Headquarters Detec. tive Michael Dowd he sent two builets through Bell's chest when the man blocked his way with a revolver he was pointing at him. Jackson was accom- panied by two other prohibition agents at the time. According to Dowd, the Federal offi cers say they saw a colored man car rying liquor” into the premises wher the raid was made. Inside, they could not find the man they saw enter, but were confronted by Bell, who contested their right to come into the house. Seventeen cases of alleged liquor were found. Charles Smith, colored, of 2125 Ninth street, was arrested on charges of illegal possession of liquor. His wife, Alice Smith, and Agnes Tucker, colored, of 2119 Ninth street, are being held at the House of Detention as witnesses. Coroner Nevitt said this morning that he purposely set the inquest in the case for tomorrow so as to allow the head- quarters homicide squad to conduct an investigation, Steps were taken this morning to se- cure Jackson's release on bond. Referring to the shooting of Bell by Prohibition Agent Jackson, Representa- tive Schafer, Republican, of Wisconsin, sald yesterday: “Following the applause favoring the dry killings yesterday within the shadow of the Nation's Capi- tol, we find, according to a press r¢ lease today, that another Federal pro- hibition agent shot a citizen while mak- | ing a prohibition raid without a search warrant. No one innocent or guilty of violating the sacred prohibition laws knows whether his bleeding form will be the next to be cast upon the reeking altar without warning. It may be some of those who vigorously applauded the prohibition killings in the House yesterday. DEVELOPMENT WORK OUTLINED BY GRANT Illinois State Society Hears Colonel Review Progress of Metro- politan Area. ‘The present development in tne Washington metropolitan area is but the extension in scope and scale of what was originally planned by far- seeing planners and engineers, notably L'Enfant, Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant, 3d, director of public buildings and pub: parks, told the Illinois State Society meeting last night at the Willard Hotel. The expansion in Government building . to a great extent, an enlargement the original plans, while the regional plans represent the gradual growth of | studies made in various plans over a great many years. Col. Grant said. He declared that city planning has come to recognize a community of in- terest along economic, commercial and residential lines that transcends po- litical boundaries. For this reason, he explained, there is a co-ordination of effort on the part of Virginia and Mar: land authorities necessary in the plan- ning of Washington. Mrs. Carl R. Chindblom, wife of the Illinois Representative; Miss Bonnie P. Sassaurman and Howard Moore rend- ered a program of songs, accompanied by Louis Thompson. Included among guests of honor were Judge and Mrs. Thomas S. Willlams. Representative Charles Adkins, Representative and Mrs William E. Hull and Representative and reduced. Method of Computing. | The provision of the league’s pro- posed bill dealing with increased an- nuities reads as follows: “The annuity of an employe retired | | under this act shall be computed by | multiplying the average annual basic | salary, pay or compensation, not to | exceed $2.000 per annum, received by | such employe during any five years of allowable service at the option of the employe, by the number of years of service, ‘not exceeding 30 years, and dividing the product by 40. In no case, however, shall the annuity ex- ceed $1,500 per annum nor be less than | $365 per annum. Mrs. Worrell's letter to members of the House and Senate sets forth in the interests of the proposed bill “the fol- lowing facts which cannot be con- troverted.” Here are the 11 points in which she sums up the case for the Government employes, as seen by the league she represents: . The annuity now in the United States Treasury has reached the enor- mous sum of $144,000,000, and by July 1, 1930, will in all probability exceed $150,000,000. 2. This sum draws 4 per cent com- pound interest, but even at a fixed straight 4 per cent rate the interest would amount to $6.000.000 per annum, which is almost half the sum that was paid out of the fund during the last | fiscal year. . Government employes during the | | fiscal year ending June 30, 1929, con- | | tributed (through 3!, per cent reduc- |tion from their salaries every two | weeks) the sum of $28482,257 to the! retirement fund, which, together with the interest, tctaled $32929.045. The Government made its first contribution of $19,950,000. ! “4. There was paid out in annuities, ;refunds and retirement for disability ; during the last fiscal year the sum of | $16,072,472, leaving a surplus of $16,~ 856,572 contributed by employes over and above the demand. 3,302 Draw Maximum. “5. Out of the total number on the ! retirement roll (15,383) only 3,302 draw the maximum (now $1,000 per annum), while 12,081 draw very much less. About 5000 draw less than $500 per annum; hout 600 draw less than $300 per an- num, a number even less than $100 per annum and one drawp,$3444 per an- num, or a little over 9'¢ents a day Persons entering the service at the age of 20 years must serve 50 year: | included in computing annuities, and paid. “For instance, all $1,200 basic salaries were increased to $1,440, and the $1,400 salaries became $1.680 (or $40 more than the added bonus), etc. This gives | the retired Federal employe whose a { nuities are computed on pay increased | by reclassification at least $180 a year | more annuity (in some cases $210 a| year more) than they would otherwise | have received or than that paid to those | retired whose annuities are computed | on the basis of salaries paid prior to| reclassification. Surely that is not fair | or_reasonable. To rectify this grave fault in your proposed amendment the word bonuses’ should be stricken out where it is stated that bonuses shall not be | a clause should be added providing that basic salary and bonus paid prior to reclassification shall be included in computing annuities. “The failure to include the bonus im- posed cruel hardship on the lowest-paid employes, It gave only $2.87 a month to one, 10 average $560, 127 average $12.50, 436 average $20.83, 827 average $29.16, 1635 average $37.50. ‘Think | what it means! These people are old | and helpless. Under your proposed | amendment the increases in these cases | would be 36 cents, 70 cents, $1.46, $2.60, | $3.64, $4.68. , Including the bonus would | give $7.50 to $15 more. What a god- | send that would be to them! | “To increase $1,000 annuities to $1,200 is proper, but it would be outrageous to do that and leave thousands whose need. is greatest with annuities so small that they must starve or suffer unle cared for by others. “It may cost a million dollars a year more to include the bonus in computing annuities, but that would diminish | rapidly and cease in a few years, and it would help where help is nceded most. Inasmuch as there is now over $160.- | 000,000 in the retirement fund, and it is increasing at the rate of over $30,- 000,000 a year, there is y history and possibilities of sound pic- | found suitable and a transfusion was i D e b fip | performea by Dr. L. Newman of the several millions more a year should! not be paid to the annuitants. Then,! if later found necessary, the deduction from pay for the retirement fund could be increased to 4 or even 5 per cent. No_additional cost to the Government is involved. Engincers Meet Tonight. Meeting of the Washington Chapter. American Association of Engineers, will be held at the Playhouse this evening at 8 o'clocks Mrs, Carl R. Chindblom. Senator Charles S. Deneen, president of the society, presided and introduced Col. Grant. COL. VAN WAY, RETIRED ARMY OFFICER, EXPIRES Native of Indiana, Who Served in Philippines and in World War Air Service, Oregon Resident. The War Department has been in- formed that Lieut. Col. Charles W. Van Way, U. §. A. retired, died at Portland, Oreg., last Sunday. Col. Van Way was born at Shelbyville, Ind.. September 4, 1873. and served in the Spanish War of 1898 as captain, 21st Kansas Infantry: in the Philippine in- surrection as captain. 33rd United States Volunteer Infantry, and in the World War as a colonel,” Air Service, National Army. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for ex- traordinary heroism and a silver star citation for gallantry in action in the Philippine. . December, 3 as_transferred to the retired list on account of disability incident to the service, and was restored to duty in January, 1923. At the time of his dcath he was serving with the Spruce Production Corporation at Port- land. His widow, Mrs. Mayne Van Way, is a resident of that sity. PEN WOMEN WILL HEAR TALK ON SOUND PICTURES The District branch of American Pen | became such last night that his physi- Women announced today that Henry M. Warner, president of Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc., will discuss th tures in an address to the members and invited guests tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 o'clock in the auditorium of the National Press Club. Mr. Warner's address on the topic “The Birth of Sound"” is one of a series listed by the District League as “old English coffee house talk: Mrs. Edward Everett Gann, sister of and official hostess for Vice President Curtis, and Mr. Gann, sevgral members of the Senat> and House and their wives and officials of the District government and Judiciary have been invited. THURSDAY, active | JANUARY BALTIMORE CASE HELD UNLIKELY T0 AFFECT FARE HERE ;Little Aid for Transit Lines’ Plea for Increase Is Seen in Court Decision. WEST EXPLAINS RULING | SETTING 7.44 RETURN| Depreciation Measure Set Up by Verdict Is Considered Great Weapon for Carriers. | Washington's two street railway com- | panies will not be alded materially in | their fight in the courts for a highcr | fare by the recent decision of the Su- | preme Court allowing the United Rail- | ways & Electric Co. of Baltimore a re- it was predicted today by Vernon E. | West, principal assistant corporation counsel. Mr. West. who is representing the Public Utilities Commission in the pres- ent fare case, pointed out that the | principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the Baltimore case are the same as those in earlier decisions, ex- cept that the rate of return was in- creased to 7.44 per cent. This rate, however, he explained, was applied to the facts in the Baltimore case only, the nite rule for determining a rate of re- | turn could not be laid down which will | apply uniformly to all sorts of utilities | tions. | “Did Not Fix Falr Return.” | “The Supreme Court did not say ab- | solutely what is a fair return.” sald |Mr. West. “It held that any rate lower than 7.44 per cent in the United Railways case would be confiscatory, | while at the same time indicating that | a rate of 7.5 per cent or even 8 per cent tion.” The District courts in the past have held that a rate of 7 per cent is fair, and Mr. West does not see in the latest | Supreme Court _decision any precedent for increasing that rate, particularly in view of the decline in interest rates. The crucial feature of the Supreme Court decision, according to utility ex- perts, is the rule set up for determin- ing_depreciation, which discards the orginal cost basis in favor of present value. as the greatest weapon put in the hands of the railroads and all other utilities |to obtain higher rates, although Mr. West_does not believe it will be an case, since the street railwa; he said, do not appear to be concerned with depreciation. Different Rule Held Tllogical. The court held that since the rate |ent rule of depreciation. "It further held that determination of the allow- ance for depreciation upon the basis of | original cost is unsatisfactory, since the purpose of the depreciation charge is to compensate the utility for property con- sumed in service: and if values have advanced since building the railway an allowance for depreciation based upon original cost would be insufficient to maintain the road at the same level of efficiency for public service. | Since depreciation is am element in operating costs, utility experts explain | that under the Supreme Court ruling, | consumers who may have used the serv- ice when construction costs were rel- atively low would be required to pay | the utility for the loss of property worn { out in service with enough in addition to enable it to replace the property | at an advanced price for the service of | future customers. In other words, these | experts maintain, the present genera- | tion will pay for improvements and | more efficient service to benefit the coming generation, | lustratior Ts Given. As an fllustration, it was pointed out, a street car costing $10,000 with a life of 20 years is depreciated at the rate of '$500 a year. the company at the end of its useful life having recovered the amount to replace the car. Under | the Supreme Court decision, however, it | was explained, the company would esti- | mate the cost of replacing that car 20 vears hence, which, in view of improve- | ments in_construction and other chang- ing conditions, probably would raise the cost of a car to $15,000. Thus the com- pany would retire $750 a year as the depreciation. The purpose of providing a reserve for depreciation, however, according to the experts, is not necessarily to provide | | sufficient funds for replacing the prop- | -rty as it ccases to be useful, but rather he purpose is to hold in the business, aut of earnings obtained during the use- fulness of certain properties, a sufficient amount to protect the utility from loss when it becomes necessary to abandor | 'he property. The depreciation reserve, it also was explained, is not for the pur- | | nose of providing any additional capital | where it _may be required to replace | original property with better or more | >xpensive property. and to use the de- oreciation for such a purpose would mean that in the end. the plant account | would bear very little relation to the sctual historical cost of the property in »xistence at any time. |SIGMA NU BR.OTHERS AID VICTIM OF FALL One Gives Blood as 23 Others Of- fer Theirs in Fight to Save ‘William Weible. William H. Weible, 30, lay eriticaily ill in Emergency Hospital today with i the blood of a fraternity brother cours- ing_through his veins and 23 other members of the Sigma Nu Fraternity prepared {0 aid him in a fight against the results of a 75-foot fall. Weible, who resides in the Park Cen- tral Apartments, 1900 F street, suffered | breaks in both legs and a fractured |left arm early New Year day when he | fell from his apartment to an alley in rear of the building. His condition | | | | i cian called on his friends and his fra- ternity brothers responded in a group. The blood of George Grive, 20, was | Emergency Hospital staff. After being taken to the hospital Weible told authorities he had lost his balance and toppled from a window while “getting some air” after return- ing to his room from a New Year eve | party. His condition today was said to be serious, but better than before the transfusion. . An acre of good fishing ground at s2a yields more food in a week than an acre of the best land will do in a year, | turn of 7.44 per cent on its valuation, | court taking the position that a defi- | | because of radical differences in condi- | | might be necessary to avoid confisca- | ‘The utility experts regard this important factor in Washington's fare | | base of a public utility is present value | it would be illogical to adopt a differ- | | to serve on a District grand jury—and | been temporarily accepted Tuesday, was | jury to inquire into charges of crime for 9, 1930. * 'PRIZED ZOOLOGICAL EXHIBIT PASSES IN DEATH OF TIGER | Siberian Animal Was First of Kind to Be Shown in This Country. I | 1 \ \ i | | | L i Life in Captivity, However, Regarded Longer Than in Native Jungle. The Siberian tiger, for 13 years one of the most picturesque inhabitants of the National Zoological Park, is dead. Four or five years old when he came to Washington, he was a patriarch of tigers in captivity. Originally he and his mate were the only Siberian tigers in America, and because of their rarity were among the most prized of all zoological exhibits. But now their progeny are widely dis- | persed and there is a young, healthy | pair in the Washington ~collection. They were good parents and raised cub after cub. Among the wildest and most savage of animals, they took | kindly to captivity. . | th _The mate died over a vear ago and since then the male tiger had been showing more and more signs of great age when he no longer could gnaw the raw meat which was his diet. His denth has been expected for ' some wecks. other was a South American spectacled owl, a dark bird with rings around its eyes which give it the strange appear- ance of wearing spectacles. Another addition to the Zoo came in e birth of a family of lons, but Di | Mann does not know how large the 1 | ter s because the mother lion is guard- |ing them very carefully in a darkened | inner chamber of her cage. It would be quite dangerous to investigate the size of her family while she keeps them in_seclusion. In a few days, however, she will bring them proudly out to exhibit them, and | the frolicking of baby lions always has seem 8 heen one of the greatest Zoo attractions. stand- | Captive Life Long. While about 16 years may short life, measured by human ards, said Dr. William ann, Zoo | director, it probably is a very long life for one of the big cats and is| | much longer than one of them would | live in the wild state where, in the | | struggle for survival of the fttest, | | usually the first signs of approaching | | age mean death. No body will bring food to the weakening patriarch of the | | jungle. "If ‘they had retained their | freedom, he says, probably both would | have been dead five or six years ago, whereas in Washington they still were | raising families. | For the most part, says Dr. Mann, | wild animals have a short life, com- | pared with man, especially after they attain maturity. 'The exceptions among | mammals arethe elephants and pos sibly some of the great apes, which | might be expected to follow closely the | human process of growing old, although | nobody knows anything about how long chey live outside captivity. The oldest elephant in America, now in Cincinnati, he said, has been known for 85 years and probably is a few years older than that. But, contrary to some | of the legends of the longevity of ele- | phants, he seemed to be near the end | of his road and shows in every feature and movement signs of his great age. Socco Is Old Ape at 16. Among the anthropoid apes Socco, | the chimpanzee at the National Zoo logical Park, who is now about 16 years old, is one of the most aged of his| URGES INCREASED SUPPORT OF CHEST Head of Neighborhood House "Trustees Praises Work. Officers Elected. Praising the work of the Community Chest, Mrs. Wilbur John Carr, presi- dent of the board of trustees of the Neighborhood House, yesterday at the annual meeting of the trustees of the Union Trust Co.’s board room urged in- creased support of Chest in its 1930 campaign, which will be staged from January 28 to Feb- ruary 6. “The feature of the past year has been the financing of the Neighborhood House by the Community Chest. Our work has increased in volume, but the relief from fund raising has made it posible to give proper attention to the entire program of activities. As presi« dent of the board of trustees, that I voice the sentiment of the entire board in expressing our sincere ap- preciation to the Chest.” Mrs, Alice P, Barney was elected honorary president of the board, while Mrs. Carr was re-clected president. Mrs. Charles J. Bell was named first vice president, Mrs. John Jay O'Connor, second vice president: Mrs. Porter Hin- man Dale, third vice president; Mrs. George E. Fleming, treasu Irving Zirpel, assistant treasurer: Mrs. Clara D. Neligh, secretar: . Joseph M. ; Stoddard. the finance velopment only a little faster than a | L [ human child and might be expected to | SOmmittee, and Mrs. George C. Thorpe, | have “approximately “the human life | “rne board elected for the new term ‘spfln But hitherto the lives. of all is as follows: Mme. Backe, Mrs. Frank gorillas in captivity have been cut short lchn er Balduwin' Mit, Osrgs BRrHett | by disease, and nobdy has observed them | yoB®y, PHIGIIR, VIS, CRoree, Barnett, | in their natural haunts. Some have : R IR G | said that there is a rude sort of family | Betd¥, S, Charies J. Bell Mre. | co-operation among them which might | Robert ss, Mrs. Wilbur J. s for e ing o asts, the lion, “ - if . his natural age is apparently quite lim. ‘g:l‘fv M’S~Eg’!;"1“ ge“"y- Mrs. Henry ited, Dr. Mann says, and he probably | PArsoRs Bdwin, George E = Flem- | survives much longer in zoos than in | iD§ Mrs. Gilbert Grosvenor. Mrs. Wal- | jungles. Thirteen or fourteen years is | %r Bruce Howe, Mrs. Willlam D. | about the limit thus far observed. The | Mitchell. " J. P. . Neligh, Mrs. | z00 at Dublin, Ireland, Dr. Mann says, ’“";‘ Jay O'Connor, Mrs. James S. has raised more lions than any other | PArker. Mrs. Cuno H. Rudolph, Mrs. | place in the world, indicating that con- | Frank Simonds. Mrs. Joseph M. Stod- dftions must be almost ideal for them |dard, Mrs. Sidney Taliaferro, Mrs. there. But it has been impossible to | George C. Thorpe. Mrs. Walter R, keep one alive more than 11 years there. geurrkema‘:n El]\;lr“ A‘ms;x m“‘ V;ni;gs Man Has Advantage. v B Olive Williams. In the progress of growing old, Dr. | Mann pointed out, man seems to have a decided advantage over nearly all his fellow mammals, but the same does not hold true among birds and reptiles with their less complicated nervous system to get out of order. Some birds live very long lives, and creatures like the giant turtles at the Zoo seem to live indefinitely. There is nothing to “wear them out,” and the outside limit of their lives may not be reached for five or six hundred years The monkey collection at the Zoo was |, increased this week by a douracouli and | a titi, gifts of Dr. Raymond Shannon, |Station at 1832 E_street early this | director of the Rockefeller Institute sta- | :“‘"’““;‘K» burglars made off with $65 ton for the control of vellow fever, at | e L ey sacic iC et oty Bahia, Brazil. se animals, Dr. | . B T B e i T | early today when John Freeman of 807 periments and have withstood the yel- | C_street southwest, manager of the low fever tests. station, arrived to open the place for While they are common in the Bra- | business, zilian jungles they are seldom seen in| Meats, tobaccos and eggs valued at | captivity because they do not live well. | $25 e stolen from the store of | The titi is a tiny monkey which leaps | Thomas Joseph at 3350 M street last | about the branches of trees like a squir- | Night by some one, who broke the glass | rel. The douracouli is also known as | in the rear window of the store to gain | the night monkey and is a little fellow | access to the building. dwelling in hollow trees during the day| A $40 overcoat was taken from the | and only appearing at night. It is|machine of George B. Merrill of 807 often made a pet. perching on the | H street this morning while parked near shoulders of ladies in the night life of | Thirteenth and L streets, according to | Brazilian cities, a report made to police of the second | Presents Rare Kitten. Precince stasion. | — Dr. Shannon also presented the Zoo DATE S with 'a_Tagurondi kitten. a long, slen- der, almost snakelike cat, which in- ET FOR BALL. The initial entertainment and ball habits the Brazilian forests and which has been lacking in the Zoo collection for some time. | of the season for the Virginia Society of Two rare owls were secured this week | Washington will be held at tHe Willard Hotel January 17, it was decided at a g:;;ltml of the executive council last o4 | the length of the ape period of “child- | hood,” compared to that of creatures | like the big cats it would be reasonable to expect a longer adult period. With few natural enemies in_ their native forests they may survive longer the in- | roads of old age, but probably the aging | ape has every hand among his own kin ?K:A"“ him in the competition for o N'gi. the gorilla, Dr. Mann pointed out, now is very much a “child” in his fourth year, seems to proceed in his de- | THIEVES SMASH WINDOW | R | Take 8$65 From Cash Drawer. Two Other Robberies Regort- ed to D. C. Police. Smashing a window in the office of e Taylor & Korman gasoline filling | by Dr. Mann from Sneedan Lewis, not- | >d British agriculturalist, who had made a hobby of collecting owls, but now is breaking up his collection. One of these was the European eagle owl, the most powerful European bird of prey. The | It was announced that members ‘of Camp 171, United Confederate Veterans, will be guests of honor. NEW GRAND JURY MAKES RECORD AS NINE WOMEN ARE SWORN IN! Another Excused From Service Rather Than Run Risk of Disqualifying Body. Nine women—the largest number ever Mrs. Ann L. FitzSimmons, who had excused when the court learned that she was receiving checks from the Vet~ erans’ Bureau in her name for compen- sation due her children. Out of abun- dant caution the court decided to ex- cuse the talesman rather than run the risk of the qualification of the juror! being later attacked. The other male members of the new John P. Atkins. John 14 men were sworn today by Justice Peyton Gordon as the Federal grand ihe ensuing three months. Justice Gordon selected Leslie B. Farmer, 46, who has been for 21 years an accountant with the Pennsylvania Railroad, and resides at 1333 Columbia road, to act as foreman. ‘The women on the grand jury are Mrs. Josephine Given, Miss Mabel Hurd, Mrs. g(ltd,v! N. Johnson, Mrs. Clara Herman L. the Community | I feel | TO ROB FILLING STATION| The robbery was discovered | PAGE B—1 HASTINGS T0 QUIT D. C. COMMITTEE; BAIRD SUCCESSOR Further Change in Prospect With Member to Be Named to Take Sackett’s Place. JONES STILL RETAINED, ALTHOUGH LEAVE ASKED New Jersey Senator to Serve Only Until Dwight W. Morrow Returns From London. Senator Hastings, Republican, of Delaware is to be excused from service on the Senate District committee and succeeded by Senator David A. Baird, jr., Republican, of New Jersey, it was learned today. The only other change in prospect on the District committee is the ap- pointment of a successor to Senator Sackett, Republican, of Kentucky when he leaves the Capitol to become Am- bassador to Germany. While this place has not been definitely filled it is under- stood that whoever the Governor of Kentucky appoints as the new Senator from that State probably will go on the District committee. Representative | John M. Robsion of Kentucky is slated for the appointment as Sackett's suc- cessor in the Senate. Jones Is Retained. Several weeks ago, Senator Jone Republican of Washington, who has been identified with District legislation for a number of years, expressed a de- sire to be excused from service on the District committee this year, but it is understood the Republican committee on committees decided to continue him on the local committee. Senator Jones |also is being elevated this year to the | chairmanship of the important appro- priations committee. One or two other present members of the District com- mittee also had asked to be given other | assignments, but likewise were retained as members of the District group. All indications are, therefore. that with the exception of the appointment of Senator Baird and the naming of a | successor to_Senator Sackett. the line- up of the Republican membership of the District committee will be un- | changed. Senator Arthur Capper. Republican, of Kansas, is chairman of the District committee, with the following other Republican memober: Jones, Wash- ington; Gould, Maine; Blaine, Wiscon- sin; Vandenberg, Michigan; Kean, New Jersey, and Baird, New Jersey. Baird Succeeds Edge. Senator Baird is serving as an ap- pointee to succeed former Senator Edge, who was appointed recently to be Am- bassador to France. Senator Baird is to remain in the { Senate only until Dwight W. Morrow, | Ambassador to Mexico, returns from the Naval Limitation Conference, when Mr. Morrow will be named Senator to finish aut the remainder of the term of Edge. Senator Baird is a son of former Sena- |tor Baird, who served in the upper | branch of Congress in 1918 and 1919, Senator Hastings, who is slated to go off of the District committee, has been chairman of a subcommittee which de- voted considerable time to local traffic problems and decided that the princi- pal needs were more policemen and additional funds for the Traffic Bureau. The Republican committee on commit~ tees has completed its work and is ex- pected to submit its recommendation for changes in assignments to a Re- publican conference tomorrow DISTRICT IS CALLED CIVIC LABORATORY | Ashurst Says Results of Tdeas “Sometimes Are Good and Sometimes Bad.” | ‘The District of Columbia was pic- tured as a research laboratory for mu- nicipal administration and legislation by Senator Henry F. Ashurst, Demo- | crat, of Arizona in a talk before the Op- timist Club of Washington at the weeks |ly luncheon meeting in the Hamilton | Hotel yesterday afternoon. Y | Senator Ashurst of the Senate com- | mittee on public buildings and grounds | saw the District as the test ground for ideas of members of Congress. Results so{:rtlmcs are good, sometimes bad, he said. Mrs. Pat Groves of Canada gave an illustrated lecture. Frank Pierce, international vice presi- dent of the Optimists and a former president of the Washington Club, pre- sided, in_accordance with the plan of Herbert B. Nevius, president of the club, in relinquishing his post ‘for a series of meetings under former officials. DOCTOR FOUND IN COMA IS DIABETES VICTIM W. I. Robey, Taken Ill, Falls to Sidewalk in Front of Home. Dr. W. 1. Robey. 51, of 2310 Con- necticut avenue, found lying in a coma on the pavement at Connecticut a nue and Kalorama \road about 4:3 o'clock this morning, was rushed to th George Washington University Hos- pital. where physicians said he was suffering from diabetes. Dr. Robey's condition was said to be undetermined this morning. Dr. Robey had left his office at Eighteenth and T strcets and drove home in his machine. He was alight- ing from his car preparatory to enter- ing his residence when he was taken ill and fell to the sidewalk. WARNER TO SPEAK. At the second in the series of Old English_Coffee House talks, sponsored by the District of Columbia League of American Pen Women, Harry M. Warner, president of Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc., pioneer in talking pic- ture production, will speak on_the ‘Birth of Sound” in the National Press Club auditorium tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 o'clock. A distinguished group of Washington people, including many in official life, is expected to attend the lecture, among them Mrs. Edward Everett Ganng Johnedx, Miss Ther Langbein, | § Jack H. Kenrbn, Mrs. Cynthia M. Lucas, Mrs. Marian B. O'Neal, Euzene A. Paravar Reed, Mrs. Margaret E. Strickland and | Rapee. Jozeph H. Giebg) Mrs. Lucy M. Sariol. A. Dickson. 0. Henry D Richard l ke, At 12:30 p.m. tomorrow President Hoover will receive Mr. Warner at the Hougs.